US seeks Russia's cooperation on N. Korea

WASHINGTON -- The US envoy for North Korea met with his Russian counterparts Tuesday to ensure full coordination on efforts to dismantle the North's nuclear weapons program, the State Department said.Stephen Biegun, US special representative for North Korea, held talks in Moscow with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. US special representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun (Yonhap)The three men discussed efforts to achieve the "final, full

Oct. 17, 2018

N. Korea hands over S. Korean citizen held for illegal entry

North Korea on Tuesday repatriated a 60-year-old South Korean man who was detained last month after Pyongyang claimed he entered the country illegally, Seoul’s unification ministry said.The man, identified only by his surname, Pyo, was sent to the South via the truce village of Panmunjom inside the Demilitarized Zone at around 4 p.m., the ministry said. (Reuters)“Related agencies are currently investigating him to discern how he entered the North,” the ministry said. “The government positively e

Oct. 16, 2018

KEPCO chief says discussions on investment in N. Korea can begin after progress in Washington-Pyongyang talks

Kim Jong-gap, the CEO of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (Yonhap)Kim Jong-gap, the CEO of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), said Tuesday that earnest discussions on investment in North Korea can come after progress in talks between the United States and North Korea.Kim made the remarks during a parliamentary audit, apparently referring to ongoing negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang over the latter‘s denuclearization in return for a security guarantee from the f

Oct. 16, 2018

Eugene Bell staff to visit N. Korea for 3 weeks for medical aid

The Eugene Bell Foundation, a US-based group that has long provided medical humanitarian assistance to North Korea, especially for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, said that its officials will visit the North for three weeks beginning Tuesday.The private foundation said in a press release that its delegation has begun a regular autumn visit to North Korea. (Yonhap)"The Eugene Bell Foundation's delegation will visit all North Korean multidrug-resistant tuberculosis centers supported by the found

Oct. 16, 2018

US calls for sanctions implementation following inter-Korean rail agreement

WASHINGTON -- The United States on Monday called for the full enforcement of United Nations sanctions on North Korea as the two Koreas moved to establish rail and road links across their border.The two Koreas will hold a ground-breaking ceremony in late November or early December to start the modernization and connection of railways and roads along the eastern and western regions, the sides announced after high-level talks earlier in the day.The agreement is a follow-up to last month's third sum

Oct. 16, 2018

[Breaking] Koreas agree to start railway, road work by Dec.

The two Koreas have agreed to break ground for the modernization of cross-border railways and roads in late November or early December, said a statement released by South Korea’s Unification Ministry on Monday. The statement came as a result of high-level talks held Monday to discuss the implementation of the agreement reached at last month’s inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang. South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon met with Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunif

Oct. 15, 2018

Newspaper warns N. Koreans not to have illusions about imperialism, capitalism

North Korea's official newspaper on Monday urged its people not to have illusions about imperialism in order to safeguard socialism.The Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the ruling Workers' Party, said in an editorial that capitalism and a bourgeois life fundamentally go against socialism and are "like a cancer.""Imperialists are desperately touting peace campaign and appeasement policy after their invasion policy against socialist countries failed. These are their cunning plot to accomplish their inv

Oct. 15, 2018

N. Korea opens website for trade, investment

North Korea has recently launched a new website dedicated to external trade and investment in what appears to be a move to induce more foreign investment to aid its economic growth.The "Foreign Trade of DPRK" website -- DPRK stands for Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's full name -- seen on Monday, has multiple subcategories, including trade policy, trade law, a list of North Korean trading firms, investment targets, economic development zones and trade goods.(Yonhap)The new we

Oct. 15, 2018

Pope Francis said to hope to visit NK next spring: ruling party chief

South Korea's ruling party chief said Monday that he heard Pope Francis is hoping to visit North Korea next spring as its leader Kim Jong-un has invited him to Pyongyang.Lee Hae-chan, the chairman of the Democratic Party, made the remark without revealing the source of the information."I heard that there is talk that Pope Francis wants to visit North Korea next spring," Lee said at a meeting with senior party officials.It would be quite meaningful if President Moon Jae-in delivers Kim's invitati

Oct. 15, 2018

Moon says world needs to show N. Korea made 'right' decision

PARIS -- The international community needs to prove that North Korea has made the right decision to give up its nuclear ambition, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Sunday, apparently stressing the need to start easing international sanctions against the communist state."As North Korea stands before the world after voluntarily coming out of its isolation, now it is the international community's turn to answer North Korea's tough decision and efforts," Moon said in a written interview with F

Oct. 15, 2018

Koreas hold high-level talks to discuss implementation of summit agreement

SEOUL/PANMUNJOM -- South and North Korea are holding high-level talks Monday to discuss the implementation of the summit agreement their leaders reached last month.South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon is leading a five-member delegation to the talks that began around 10 a.m. at the truce village of Panmunjom. His North Korean counterpart is Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country."(We) should work hard to produce results that people would

Oct. 15, 2018

Koreas to hold high-level talks on Monday

The divided Koreas will hold high-level talks on Monday to discuss the implementation of the summit agreement their leaders reached last month in Pyongyang, South Korea’s Ministry of Unification said Sunday. South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon will lead a five-member delegation assembled for the talks scheduled to take place on the southern side of the truce village of Panmunjom, according to the ministry. Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung, Vice Land and Transport Minister Ki

Oct. 14, 2018

Koreas to hold high-level talks this week to discuss implementation of summit agreement

South and North Korea will hold high-level talks this week to discuss the implementation of the summit agreement their leaders reached last month, the unification ministry here said Sunday.South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon will led a five-member delegation to the talks scheduled for Monday at the southern side of the truce village of Panmunjom, according to the ministry. Other South Korean delegates include Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung, Vice Land and Transport Minister

Oct. 14, 2018

S. Korea's finance minister asks IMF to help with N. Korea's reform efforts

 BALI, Indonesia -- South Korea's finance minister asked the International Monetary Fund on Saturday to play an active role in efforts to help North Korea carry out reforms and open up to the outside world, ministry officials said.Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon made the request when he met with IMF chief Christine Lagarde on the sidelines of an International Monetary and Financial Committee meeting held on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, officials said. (Yonhap)Kim explained to Lagarde tha

Oct. 14, 2018

Bolton says 2nd US-NK summit will take place in 'next couple of months'

US national security adviser John Bolton has said President Donald Trump's second meeting with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong-un, will take place in the "next couple of months."The remark was made following US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent visit to North Korea last weekend where he had hourslong talks with the North Korean leader. US National Security Advisor John Bolton (left) and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attend a White House meeting on Thursday, local time. (Yonhap)"We'

Oct. 13, 2018

North Korea extends mass gymnastics performance until late Oct

North Korea will stage its mass gymnastics performance until late October, about two weeks longer than initially planned, a travel agency specializing in tours to the reclusive state said Friday.　The Beijing-based Koryo Tours said that the North has extended the performance titled the “Glorious Country” until Oct. 27.　“We‘ve received news that this year’s ‘Glorious Country’ Mass Games have been extended, most likely until 27 October,” the company said in a posting on its website. It didn‘t provi

Oct. 12, 2018

S. Korea should not be pushed around by US: adviser Moon

 　President Moon Jae-in’s special adviser said Friday that South Korea should not be pushed around by the US as the allies seek to build a united front against North Korea, in a veiled criticism of President Donald Trump’s blunt remarks that South Korea can do nothing without his approval.　During a security seminar with a renowned US security expert in Seoul, Moon Chung-in said Trump should have been more careful with his choice of words instead of making “impromptu, instantaneous” remarks that

Oct. 12, 2018

US stresses ‘unified response’ on NK amid diplomatic row with Seoul

The US State Department has stressed a “unified response” with South Korea in approaching North Korean denuclearization issue in a bid to soothe a diplomatic row over sanctions relief. 　South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Wednesday during a parliamentary audit that consultation was underway with the relevant ministries on lifting sanctions that were imposed by South Korea after a North Korean torpedo attack sank a South Korean Navy corvette in 2010.　She later walked back the claim,

Oct. 12, 2018

Moon says N. Korean denuclearization includes giving up existing weapons

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Friday North Korea understands the need to give up its existing nuclear weapons to achieve complete denuclearization and says it will do so. The only remaining questions are when and how, he added."North Korea promised complete denuclearization. It said it will give up nukes for economic development. (It) promised that it has no reason whatsoever to possess nukes while facing difficulties, such as sanctions, as long as the safety of their regime is guarant

Oct. 12, 2018

Koreas to hold high-level talks next Monday

The two Koreas will hold high-level talks next week on ways to implement their latest summit deal, Seoul's unification ministry announced Friday.The two sides agreed to have the meeting Monday at the Peace House, a South Korea-controlled building in the truce village of Panmunjom, according to the ministry.The South had proposed holding the high-level talks on Friday, but the North presented a counteroffer for Monday. (Yonhap)"This afternoon, the government sent a message to accept it," it added

Oct. 12, 2018